After Judge’s Recusal, Federal High Court Reassigns Natasha’s Suit Against Akpabio To Justice Nyako

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has reassigned the suit filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others to Justice Binta Nyako.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reliably gathered on Thursday that the suit’s hearing has been scheduled for Friday.

The case, previously before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, will begin afresh (de novo) before Justice Nyako.

This development follows Justice Egwuatu’s withdrawal from the case after citing allegations of bias reportedly leveled against him by the Senate President, who is the third defendant in the matter.

On March 25, Justice Egwuatu recused himself from the suit filed by the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, which sought to prevent the Senate from investigating her alleged misconduct.

The suit aimed to restrain the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions from proceeding with disciplinary proceedings against the embattled lawmaker.

Justice Egwuatu announced his withdrawal from the case immediately after it was called, stating:

“Justice is rooted in confidence in the court.
Once a litigant expresses a belief that there is bias or the likelihood of bias on the part of the judge, it is not in the interest of justice for the judge to continue.
One of the defendants in this matter has expressed such a belief in writing.
In those circumstances, the honorable thing for the court to do is to desist from handling the matter.
Accordingly, I recuse myself from this matter.
The case file is hereby forwarded to my Lord, the Chief Judge, for further directives.”

Meanwhile, Justice Nyako is set to begin hearing the suit on Friday.

NAN reports that Justice Egwuatu had previously set aside Order Number Four, which he granted on March 4, declaring the Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha null and void.

In a ruling on March 19, Justice Egwuatu vacated the order after listening to arguments from counsel for both the plaintiff and the defendants.

The Senate (the second defendant) had filed a motion on notice seeking to vacate the March 4 order, which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit null, void, and of no effect.

The judge had initially granted Natasha’s five reliefs on March 4, including Order Number Four, which nullified any action taken by the defendants while the suit was pending.

The five prayers were granted after Sanusi Musa, SAN, representing Natasha, moved an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

Natasha had sued the Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Senate as the first and second defendants, respectively.

She also named the Senate President and Senator Neda Imasuem, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Code of Conduct, as the third and fourth defendants.

The senator sought an interim injunction restraining the Senate Committee, led by Imasuem, from proceeding with the investigation into her alleged misconduct during the plenary session of February 20, following the Senate’s referral on February 25, pending the hearing and determination of her motion for an interlocutory injunction.

However, in a motion filed on March 17, Senate counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, sought to vacate Order Number Four, arguing that it restricted the Senate from performing its constitutional legislative functions.

Ojukwu contended that enforcing the order would cause a constitutional crisis and legislative gridlock. He further argued that the order violated the principle of separation of powers enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

In response, Natasha’s counsel, Michael Numa, SAN, dismissed the Senate’s argument as a delay tactic.